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Volkswagen Type 1 'Beetle'

Volkswagen's 'Beetle' car grew through the 1930s with Ferdinand Porsche developing a number of rear-engined vehicles with Zundapp and NSU. From 1933, backed by Adolf Hitler's support and the 'KdF-Wagen' (Strength through Joy) programme, the familiar Beetle design was created by Erwin Komenda, although the Tatra T97 may have inspired the body design and the choice of air-cooled engine. Beetle production only really started in 1945 and ended in Mexico in 1983 after more than 21million were built.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1953 badge. This Blue and Green front bonnet badge shows this car to be earlier than 1960 when the colours were changed

Volkswagen Beetle 1300 1971

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 year Standard. No chrome bumpers or chrome window surrounds for the standard beetle.

Volkswagen Type 1 1953.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1955. This car was the 'standard' version, cut down on price and equipment, with chrome work being painted.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1963. In 1963 the shield badge above the front bonnet handle was discontinued. Indicators on top of the wings had been available in American markets from 1958, but were added to European cars from 1963.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1955. The full length sunroof had been available since 1950

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 Standard. The standard Beetle was built for the German home market and is sparsely trimmed inside, lacks chrome trim and only has cable brakes and a crash gearbox.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1957. This car was built in South Africa. The 1957 model still had the small front and rear screens, both enlarged in 1958.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1957. From 1954 the rear lights had become single lens units, no longer having the 'heart-shaped' stop light. 1957 was the final year for oval rear window.

Volkswagen Beetle 1959 Deluxe

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1959. In 1958 larger front and rear windows were given to the Beetle. Single lens 'snowflakes' rear lights remain until 1962.

Volkswagen Beetle 1960 Standard

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1963. In 1958 the windscreen was enlarged, and in 1965 all windows were bigger.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1963. From 1960 a 40bhp engine had been fitted. The larger 'rectangular' rear window had been given in 1958.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1965. Large side windows are the most notable change for 1965, but the front and rear screens were also enlarged

Volkswagen Beetle 1500 1967. In 1967 the Beetle was given upright headlamps because the American market ruled out the sloping lamps. This resulted in new front wings and bumpers. The 1500 model was introduced with a 1500cc engine, and there was also an Automatic Beetle using this engine.

Volkswagen Beetle 1500 1967. In 1967 the Beetle was given new rear lamps to meet Federal regulations. This resulted in new wings and bumpers. The 1500 model was introduced with a 1500cc engine, and there was also an Automatic Beetle using this engine.

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1968. In 1965 all windows were enlarged and the windscreen was slightly curved. In 1966 the ventilated wheels and flatter hubcaps had appeared on the Beetle. From 1967 the non-sloping front headlamps and new bumpers were given

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1968. The Beetle was available with a 50bhp 1300cc engine from 1966. The larger tail lights were added in 1968

Volkswagen Type 1 1302S 1971. The VW 'Super Beetle' was a higher price car. The nose was revised with a bigger bonnet and underneath were fitted macpherson strut suspension and better brakes.

Volkswagen Beetle 1300 1971. The 'basic' Beetle even in 1971 still retained the flat windscreen. The Citroen 2CV is from 1988. Both 'beetles' were launched commercially in 1948

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1971. A through ventilation system was added in 1971, and has little crescent-shaped grilles aft of the rear side windows.

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1971. In 1970 ventilation slots were added to the rear bonnet, and larger taillights were added

Volkswagen Type 1 1302S 1971. The 1302S was known as the 'Super Beetle' and VW hoped to make this an up-market car. The 1600cc engine was given dual-ported heads to increase performance.

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. For 1971 VW introduced the "Super Beetle" with new Macpherson front suspension and changed front panels. In 1973 the 1302 was revised to become the 1303. Biggest change was the new panoramic windscreen, a response to USA safety requirements.

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. Late model 1302 VWs were given enlarged rear window and 4-sets of vents on the rear bonnet. The 'Elephants feet' rear lamps came with the 1303 model in 1973

VW Beetle 1200 L 1972. This car did not leave Wolfsburg coloured in this way, but the paint scheme was added at about 3years old.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1954 - windscreen

Volkswagen Type 1 1957 - windscreen

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1965 - windscreen. From 1965 the Beetle was given enlarged front and rear screens and larger side windows.

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 year Standard. The split rear window existed from the early 1938 KdfWagens until 1953 when oval rear windows came in. It is this feature that hints at the car's origin from Tatra designs.

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 Standard - rear window. The single oval window was first given in 1953. The lack of chrome frame to this window is a feature of the plain 'standard' model built mainly for the German home market

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1971. The rear window (and all other windows) were enlarged in 1965

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. The largest rear screen was given to the 1302 in 1972 and passed onto the 1303 in 1973

Volkswagen Type 1 1960 - rear wheel

Volkswagen Type 1 1965 - front wheel

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1956 Convertible. This view shows a 'thermometer' type fuel guage next to the speedometer, which was an optional extra not standard.

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 year Standard

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1959.

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 Standard

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1965. Large side windows are the most notable change for 1965, but the front and rear screens were also enlarged

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1971

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. The 1303 has the largest body of all Beetles. From 1972 the rear screen was enlarged and the 1303 gained the new curved windscreen in 1973. The extended nose (with macpherson strut suspension) had been given to the 1302 models in 1971.

Volkswagen Beetle 1956 year Standard. The split rear window is a pointer to the design of the Tatra T97 which also had a split rear window because there was a central stabilising fin between the windows. Porsche's version simplified this feature

Volkswagen Type 1 1953.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1956 Convertible. With the cooling grille above the rear bonnet covered by the hood, new vents had to be made in the bonnet.

Volkswagen Type 1 1300 1968. In 1966 the 50bhp 1300cc engine was an option. Bumpers were changed in 1968

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. For 1971 VW introduced the "Super Beetle". Available as '1302' (with 1300cc engine) and '1302S' (with 1600cc), this was updated in 1973 to the '1303'. In 1972 the rear window had been enlarged, and 4 sets of vents added to the rear bonnet.

Volkswagen Type 1 1953 - tail lamp

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1957 - rear light unit used from 1954 to 1962

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1965. Larger front indicators from 1964.

Volkswagen Type 1 1200 1965. Larger taillights with built in indicators had been added in 1962.

Volkswagen Type 1 1303 1973. The largest rear lamps ever fitted to a Beetle were given to the 1303 model in 1973.

key text:
This is the page introducing Simons love of cars from the website
RedSimon which
is a series of photo albums of Simon GP Geoghegan.
The names of Pinin, Farina, and Pininfarina are also considered
There are also notes on
Pininfarina
as well as
the car maker
and links tothat
car maker
see also my Picasa car albums
withe even more on RedSimon
Simon is also a contributor to SuperCars.Net
And also to Wikipedia
Photos may be purchased from PhotoBox